Moving to Madrid

Expats moving to Madrid will find a wonderful city that is a pleasure to live in, with great restaurants, lively bars, interesting art galleries and two world-famous football teams.

Madrid is the commercial and political capital of Spain, and although the centre is convincingly international it retains a distinctly Latin feel. Foreigners have no need to fear the pressures of a high-speed lifestyle that are so often attached to other Western capitals.

While retirees searching for sunnier shores and a relaxing descent into their twilight years may not relish the prospect of emigrating to Madrid, it is beyond a doubt the place to go for those looking to further their career in Spain while capitalising on an attractive quality of life.

The economy of Spain was ravaged at the hands of the global financial crisis, but the country has recovered substantially. Madrid is the best city to find a job in the country, boasting both large multinational businesses and a fair amount of direct foreign investment.

The price of food, eating out and drinking is cheaper than in many other European cities. That said, average salaries are also generally inferior to those in other major European capitals.

In terms of accommodation, expats will find that quality housing in Madrid can be difficult to find for a good price, and it is important to know where to search, how to negotiate and how to make a deal quickly, knowledgeably and efficiently.

The healthcare is considered one of the best in Europe, and the Spanish National Health System (SNS) is available for free for all employees in Spain or EU citizens. The public education system is also well regarded, although many expat families choose to send their children to one of the many private schools that have bilingual or full English curriculum.

With the good schools and ample activities on offer, Madrid is a good city to bring up children, and its appealing weather means that they have plenty of opportunities to entertain themselves in one of the city's many parks. Do note, however, that August can be very hot and air conditioning is a must, while winters are cold, with the occasional snowfall drifting down every other year.

On the whole, expats living in Madrid will find that the city’s rich history and youthful enterprise make for an exciting opportunity for individuals and families alike.

Living in Madrid?

Are you living in Madrid? We are always looking for local expat experts to contribute to our Madrid guide and to answer forum questions for people moving or planning to move to Madrid. Please contact us if you would like to contribute.

Pierre made the move to Madrid with little knowledge of Spanish and work experience, and within six months became fluent and landed a top management consulting job. He is now on a mission to enable all kinds of people moving to Madrid to get the personal relocation support they need, via his Moving2Madrid blog and his real estate and relocation company by expats for expats FlatAway Madrid.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to drop him an email or a Tweet!

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Become our local expat expert for your area! We are looking for contributors to help make this the ultimate guide for expats. Get in touch if you can provide useful info on your city or answer forum questions from new expats.